My confidence has been shaken.

[Poe350]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello, I don't post here much, but I lurked quite a lot. Anyway, I just finished up my freshman year and my GPA is a 3.16...far less than ideal. Honestly, I have no one to blame but myself. I just didn't take it serious enough. I'm one of those kids who never studied in highschool, but still made straight A's, but had their foundation shaken by college. I ended my first semester with a 3.37. This past semester though, I took Latin and made a C, which really hurt. My GPA for this past semester was like a 2.9. I feel like I've let everyone down; my parent, professors, and myself.

I've been rather sick with myself, but I've decided that self pity isn't going to help anything at all. I'm seriously buckling down this fall. I'm going to study my butt, and try to study more efficiently too. I actually did rather well on the downhill side of this semester (minus Latin), but it was too little, too late. I'm hoping to carry this momentum as long as I can now. I have a job in a research lab which I love and hopefully it will help dig me out of this hole I've made. I'm planning on getting involved in some organizations (any suggestions would be great!). I'm shadowing some doctors this summer and will hopefully get an opportunity to volunteer some.

This reason I've made this post is to get your opinions on whether or not I've past the point of no return? If I can bump my GPA up a few notches, can I bury my freshman year? Will an adcom be able to relate to freshman follies?

Thank you for any advice. As you can I most needed to rant, but a little honestly/encouragement/bitter true would be nice!

 

[mbdenver]

I don't think you should give up hope. From what I hear, adcoms look favorably on an upward trend in GPA so study hard over the next couple of years. You're doing the right thing getting started early on your clinical/research experience. As for organizations, look for something you are passionate/interested in - something you enjoy doing rather than something that you are doing just to get into med school. Best of luck to you!

 

[Forthegood]

I'm going to study my butt, and try to study more efficiently too.

How do you plan on doing that?

I have a job in a research lab which I love and hopefully it will help dig me out of this whole I've made!

Well, the whole thing sounds like a giant hole, to be honest.


It is unlikely that an ADCOM will be able to relate. And you will have a hard time making up for the bad grades. Improving a GPA is very much harder than destroying one.

That being said, work hard, study, and do well in your classes. You seem to be on the right foot with research, and if you can find a parallel with some clinical job or shadowing I'd say you're doing just fine.

Make it so that your GPA is the worst part of your resume, and work hard to improve your GPA. You sound like you've got a head on your shoulders. Keep your head down and you'll be fine.

 

[ar2388]

i would caution and say dont devote too much of your time to EC"s and volunteering and organizations when you may/will need it to focus ons chool and bring your GPA up. Right now, I think the most important thing is your gpa. maybe join one club and one volunteer/clinical experience and the rest of the time focus on your grades..
also, thankfully it is onyl your freshman year, but for next year, change things up. maybe make to do lists or plan out your day or study without your computer or phone nearby... whatever you do, just make sure that your grades improve to a mostly-A's-with-few-B's level

good luck!

 

[buccsmf1]

i had virtually the exact same gpa (i had 3.14) after my freshman year. by the time i graduated i had a 3.57. you'll probably have to wait till after your senior year to apply but it is possible to get your gpa up to where it needs to be. just figure out what you did wrong your freshman year and work hard!!!

 

[searun]

Most people on SDN will say, "why in God's name did you take Latin?" And frankly it is a good question, why in God's name did you take Latin? People quit taking Latin shortly before the Renaissance began. But you did, and it is what it is. If it makes you feel any better, I took a course in religious studies my freshman year, and I got a "B". It was horrifying but I got over it. Why did I take a course in religious studies my freshman year, well, my father insisted upon it and I did and well, I got the damn "B." But life goes on, it did for me and it will for you.

There are many people who get accepted to med school who get their butt handed to them freshman year. Fortunately, you have figured this out. You sound like a bright kid, so, come out swinging next year, kick some academic butt, find your stride, and you will be fine. My best advice is to forget about extracurricular actviities next year, just study until your eyes blur, and get the grades that you need sophomore year. Do really well sophomore year academically, and then start working on the EC's junior year.

Oh, don't drink too much beer. Just drink beer on Friday nights. That is it.

Searun

 

[261766]

That being said, work hard, study, and do well in your classes. You seem to be on the right foot with research, and if you can find a parallel with some clinical job or shadowing I'd say you're doing just fine.

Make it so that your GPA is the worst part of your resume, and work hard to improve your GPA. You sound like you've got a head on your shoulders. Keep your head down and you'll be fine.

And the second benefit of this is, if you do well in school, you should
also do well on the mcat, which not necessarily looks bad at all. but yes, if you put your mind into improving your grades, adcom will look on this favorably.

Edit: grades and courses first and foremost, EC and research second.

 

[Stratego]

i would caution and say dont devote too much of your time to EC"s and volunteering and organizations when you may/will need it to focus ons chool and bring your GPA up.

My best advice is to forget about extracurricular actviities next year, just study until your eyes blur, and get the grades that you need sophomore year.

Great advice, OP, if you listen to it!

 

[Poe350]

Thanks for all the great advice! I really need it at the moment. As for how I plan on "studying my butt off", I've basically revised the way I study. I'm much more efficient now with way less distraction.

And I really don't know why I took Latin. It just stuck my interests for some reason, but has now because one of my biggest regrets haha. I'm pretty sure I'm going to start over with a foreign language. Do any one you have any suggestions? Or would it be a good idea to retake the first Latin?

I'm glad to know that I haven't royally screwed-up. But now is sink or swim time! Here's hoping...or let's say working, for the best.

 

[NickNaylor]

You're certainly not beyond hope. As long as you do well through the rest of your college time, I'm sure you'll do fine.

More or less echoing what several others have said, I think that if you always keep in mind the real purpose of college - to LEARN, above all else - you might be able to focus a little more. While the med school application process of course requires participation in non-academic activities, you should remember that you'll get no where if you don't do well in classes. Academics should be your focus if you plan to take your education seriously. It's an intense mindset, but it's fundamentally true.

Take the summer to relax and get focused, then hit the ground running when the fall semester starts.

 

[Poe350]

Take the summer to relax and get focused, then hit the ground running when the fall semester starts.

That's exactly what I'm doing. I wanted to take summer classes, but due to me not being able to find a place to stay around campus for the summer, that went out the window. I think it was for the best though. I now can refocus and get my mind where it needs to be.

 

[UVAbme2009]

Honestly, I would just give up. That one C will be the end of your application.


Seriously, you have three more years to pick up your GPA. Chill out.

 

[vickpick]

as many already said, u can't devote so much time to EC's while suffering at school...

U said ur have a job at a lab and that it might help u get out of the hole? - No, thats not going to help - Its just gonna take up more of your time (unless u absolutely need the money). Back down off EC's and concentrate on class..

 

[Poe350]

Honestly, I would just give up. That one C will be the end of your application.


Seriously, you have three more years to pick up your GPA. Chill out.

Haha thanks 😀 That's what I've been telling myself, but when I hear people talk about their 4.0...it just makes me kinda

 

[Poe350]

as many already said, u can't devote so much time to EC's while suffering at school...

U said ur have a job at a lab and that it might help u get out of the hole? - No, thats not going to help - Its just gonna take up more of your time (unless u absolutely need the money). Back down off EC's and concentrate on class..

I really don't see the lab as that much of a distraction from study time. It's just become part of my daily routine. And I really do need the money. I mean, my parents are covering most of school expenses, but I wouldn't even be able to drive my car without a job.

 

[vickpick]

since u need the money, I guess, just try to figure out a better way of studying.. studying w/ music has worked wonders for me.. listen to familiar music only- not the radio...

 

[viscous]

Hello, I don't post here much, but I lurked quite a lot. Anyway, I just finished up my freshman year and my GPA is a 3.16...far less than ideal. Honestly, I have no one to blame but myself. I just didn't take it serious enough. I'm one of those kids who never studied in highschool, but still made straight A's, but had their foundation shaken by college. I ended my first semester with a 3.37. This past semester though, I took Latin and made a C, which really hurt. My GPA for this past semester was like a 2.9. I feel like I've let everyone down; my parent, professors, and myself.

I've been rather sick with myself, but I've decided that self pity isn't going to help anything at all. I'm seriously buckling down this fall. I'm going to study my butt, and try to study more efficiently too. I actually did rather well on the downhill side of this semester (minus Latin), but it was too little, too late. I'm hoping to carry this momentum as long as I can now. I have a job in a research lab which I love and hopefully it will help dig me out of this hole I've made. I'm planning on getting involved in some organizations (any suggestions would be great!). I'm shadowing some doctors this summer and will hopefully get an opportunity to volunteer some.

This reason I've made this post is to get your opinions on whether or not I've past the point of no return? If I can bump my GPA up a few notches, can I bury my freshman year? Will an adcom be able to relate to freshman follies?

Thank you for any advice. As you can I most needed to rant, but a little honestly/encouragement/bitter true would be nice!

if it helps, I had 3.08 at the end of first year. At the time of my graduation after 3 years, I had 3.8ish cgpa. But that is me and you might not be me. But just to tell you that it can be done.

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

don't worry I just finished my freshman year as well and im kind of the same position, I'm sitting on a 3.03 right now......just get 4.0's from here on out

 

[Poe350]

if it helps, I had 3.08 at the end of first year. At the time of my graduation after 3 years, I had 3.8ish cgpa. But that is me and you might not be me. But just to tell you that it can be done.

I basically just needed some reassurance that it is possible. As of now, I'll have no one to blame but myself if I don't achieve what I want. No more being able to blame a crappy highschool or a rough transition to college.

don't worry I just finished my freshman year as well and im kind of the same position, I'm sitting on a 3.03 right now......just get 4.0's from here on out

I think we can do it. We just have to try our absolute best!

 

[BlueElmo]

don't worry I just finished my freshman year as well and im kind of the same position, I'm sitting on a 3.03 right now......just get 4.0's from here on out

. I love statements like these.

 

[Heathrow6]

Ignore the alarmists. You have plenty of chances to improve your GPA b/c you don't have that many credit hours weighing it down. If you're still making C's junior year, reconsider. But for now, learn and grow. Adcoms overlook youthful indiscretion all the time.

 

[fusionx22]

i had virtually the exact same gpa (i had 3.14) after my freshman year. by the time i graduated i had a 3.57. you'll probably have to wait till after your senior year to apply but it is possible to get your gpa up to where it needs to be. just figure out what you did wrong your freshman year and work hard!!!

I was in a similar situation, although my GPA was a little higher by the end of freshman year (3.33). I felt the same way you did, and ironically said the same things to myself haha. BUT I did pull through! I just pulled 4.0s every semester except for 1 lol. I applied with a 3.79 (overal GPA and BCPM exactly the same haha). As for ECs, I focused on what I was interested in and it paid off. The application process was good to me haha. Work hard, man (or girl). You'll pull through.

 

[flip26]

Your wake up call was the first semester. What changes did you make to your study habits, etc., after the first semester?

As for are you doomed? No, but you have dug a deep hole, and the next 3 years will be a very slow climb out of that hole. Take it a semester at a time, a class at a time, a test or graded assignment at a time.

 

[Poe350]

I was in a similar situation, although my GPA was a little higher by the end of freshman year (3.33). I felt the same way you did, and ironically said the same things to myself haha. BUT I did pull through! I just pulled 4.0s every semester except for 1 lol. I applied with a 3.79 (overal GPA and BCPM exactly the same haha). As for ECs, I focused on what I was interested in and it paid off. The application process was good to me haha. Work hard, man (or girl). You'll pull through.

Thanks, it's stuff like this that I wanted/needed to hear 👍

On an unrelated note, but not worthy of it's own thread: I'm taking 17 hours next semester as of now. The classes are Micro Bio, O-Chem, Statistics, Sociology Micro Lab, Bio Lab, Statistics Lab, and Chem Lab. I'm kind of worried about this load. It's going to be more intense than my last two semester. I could drop the Chem Lab (2 hours), which would make things more manageable, but I don't want to mess myself up for the future (ie. I have to have this chem lab to take orgo lab, which is next semester. I doubt they would let me take both at the same time). What do you guys think? Should I stick it through? Should I drop it and try and make it up or whatever it throws off next summer? As of now, I'm going to go my first week, see if I think it's too much and then make a decision, but any insight you guys have would be very useful.

 

[flip26]

if it helps, I had 3.08 at the end of first year. At the time of my graduation after 3 years, I had 3.8ish cgpa. But that is me and you might not be me. But just to tell you that it can be done.

Hmmm....assuming freshman year = 25 percent of your grades, (3.08 x 25%) + (4.00 x 75%) = 3.77 max assuming you made straight As the remainder of college....

Generous upward rounding to get to 3.8ish?

 

[fusionx22]

Thanks, it's stuff like this that I wanted/needed to hear 👍

On an unrelated note, but not worthy of it's own thread: I'm taking 17 hours next semester as of now. The classes are Micro Bio, O-Chem, Statistics, Sociology Micro Lab, Bio Lab, Statistics Lab, and Chem Lab. I'm kind of worried about this load. It's going to be more intense than my last two semester. I could drop the Chem Lab (2 hours), which would make things more manageable, but I don't want to mess myself up for the future (ie. I have to have this chem lab to take orgo lab, which is next semester. I doubt they would let me take both at the same time). What do you guys think? Should I stick it through? Should I drop it and try and make it up or whatever it throws off next summer? As of now, I'm going to go my first week, see if I think it's too much and then make a decision, but any insight you guys have would be very useful.

Oh wow, that is an intense load. How does your school check to see what prereqs you've taken? Is it built into the software you use to register? My point is that I think you should lighten your load a little if you want that 4.0. BTW, what the heck is Statistics lab?

 

[OpalOnyx]

Hello, I don't post here much, but I lurked quite a lot. Anyway, I just finished up my freshman year and my GPA is a 3.16...far less than ideal. Honestly, I have no one to blame but myself. I just didn't take it serious enough. I'm one of those kids who never studied in highschool, but still made straight A's, but had their foundation shaken by college. I ended my first semester with a 3.37. This past semester though, I took Latin and made a C, which really hurt. My GPA for this past semester was like a 2.9. I feel like I've let everyone down; my parent, professors, and myself.

I've been rather sick with myself, but I've decided that self pity isn't going to help anything at all. I'm seriously buckling down this fall. I'm going to study my butt, and try to study more efficiently too. I actually did rather well on the downhill side of this semester (minus Latin), but it was too little, too late. I'm hoping to carry this momentum as long as I can now. I have a job in a research lab which I love and hopefully it will help dig me out of this hole I've made. I'm planning on getting involved in some organizations (any suggestions would be great!). I'm shadowing some doctors this summer and will hopefully get an opportunity to volunteer some.

This reason I've made this post is to get your opinions on whether or not I've past the point of no return? If I can bump my GPA up a few notches, can I bury my freshman year? Will an adcom be able to relate to freshman follies?

Thank you for any advice. As you can I most needed to rant, but a little honestly/encouragement/bitter true would be nice!

Dude - you need to quit worrying. It's not bad. But if you keep freaking out like this and worry over the next 3 years, you will have a hard time. Just forget the past and focus on your work.

It's not THAT bad. Better to make your mistakes freshman year and show an upward trend. Get over it. Move on.

 

[littlealex]

Still early in the game friend. It's not even half time yet, way too early to give up.

Buckle down and do your best. You'll regret it forever if you don't give your best effort. I was also a kid who didn't study much in high school, and there was a point in college when I realized that I don't ever want to be the kid with a lot of potential but didn't take advantage of it.

This is your life; it's happening right now. Potential and intelligence are worth nothing if you can't motivate yourself to use the tools you're given. Focus and learn. You're in college not for a piece of paper that said you graduated. You're in college to learn. You're in college for an education. That piece of paper is worth nothing if you don't have the knowledge to back it up. Focus on learning what the professor wants you to learn in the classes, and you'll be able to do well on the test no matter how they test you.

Excuses are just excuses in life. Don't allow yourself any. Try your best, and learn to be okay if you don't succeed. Give your goals your honest best and you will always be able to live with yourself.

Go get them.

 

[Poe350]

Oh wow, that is an intense load. How does your school check to see what prereqs you've taken? Is it built into the software you use to register? My point is that I think you should lighten your load a little if you want that 4.0. BTW, what the heck is Statistics lab?

Yep it's all software. But I had a professor pull a favor since I wouldn't have been able to take micro bio or genetics without the bio lab, so I would have been a bio major taking on a bio lab for semester...he unlocked it for me and let me take micro.

So do you guys think my load is too much? A lot of my upperclassmen friends have said my going to be suicidal by the end of the fall haha. So you think I should drop the chem lab and take later on?

As for stats lab...I'm not really 100% percent sure what it is, but you have to take it with Statistics. A couple of people have told me they heard you basically sit at a computer and do homework during the lab 😕

 

[Poe350]

Still early in the game friend. It's not even half time yet, way too early to give up.

Buckle down and do your best. You'll regret it forever if you don't give your best effort. I was also a kid who didn't study much in high school, and there was a point in college when I realized that I don't ever want to be the kid with a lot of potential but didn't take advantage of it.

This is your life; it's happening right now. Potential and intelligence are worth nothing if you can't motivate yourself to use the tools you're given. Focus and learn. You're in college not for a piece of paper that said you graduated. You're in college to learn. You're in college for an education. That piece of paper is worth nothing if you don't have the knowledge to back it up. Focus on learning what the professor wants you to learn in the classes, and you'll be able to do well on the test no matter how they test you.

Excuses are just excuses in life. Don't allow yourself any. Try your best, and learn to be okay if you don't succeed. Give your goals your honest best and you will always be able to live with yourself.

Go get them.

Wow thanks, that was very well put! This is exactly where I'm at. I feel horrible for basically squandering away my first year. I'm going to the best college in my state and there are so many doors open to me and I know I have a lot of potential. I want to turn that potential into actual, tangible knowledge. I want feel like I truly lived up to everything I'm capable of when I graduate.

This "I realized that I don't ever want to be the kid with a lot of potential but didn't take advantage of it." basically sums up what I feel right now. The absolute last thing I want is to be a senior and realize that I didn't put 100% into college.

 

[VMSmith]

Labs tend to be pretty time intensive courses, and depending on where you go to school, tough to get A's in. Schools that are heavily research oriented (and therefore professors like to see themselves as training people to go into research) tend to grade labs harshly.

I would recommend no more than 2 lab per semester, and ideally just 1 per semester.

As far as your grades, a poor showing in freshman year isn't the worst thing that could happen to you. Having your confidence shaken earlier in your life is better than having it totally shattered later on. You know why you did poorly (high school was too easy and you weren't prepared to work), so you have the first step toward fixing the problem laid out for you. As long as this doesn't continue or recur, you (and adcoms) can chalk it up as a learning experience that will make you into a more mature person.

The thing to consider is that your GPA will end up lower than it could have been, so you will have to do a little better on the MCAT than you would have otherwise. Otherwise, your app might be thrown out without anyone noticing that your GPA was solely the result of "freshman follies".

 

[VMSmith]

This "I realized that I don't ever want to be the kid with a lot of potential but didn't take advantage of it." basically sums up what I feel right now. The absolute last thing I want is to be a senior and realize that I didn't 100% into college.

Yep. It's good that you recognize the opportunity you have and want to make the most of it. That's a good attitude to carry with you throughout your school career.

 

[iMD]

suck it up. you got at least 3 more years to bring that gpa up, no sense in crying about it right now.

 

[Techmed07]

This book could do wonders for you.


How to be a straight "A" Student -by Cal Newport.

 

[Poe350]

This book could do wonders for you.


How to be a straight "A" Student -by Cal Newport.

Ah thanks, I'll definitely check it out!

 

[Lacipart]

A great MCAT can help offset a less-than-ideal GPA.

I'm not saying you should plan to get a 3.0 GPA and a 40MCAT, but a "low" GPA like a 3.5 GPA can get you accepted if you have a 34 MCAT.

Than again that means you have to do great on the MCAT..

 

[iMD]

fwiw, my first year i had a 3.1-3.2 gpa as well. a few years later, i graduated summa cum laude and now in med school. like i said, suck it up and do work.

 

[Forthegood]

OP-- I forgot to mention, and it looks like everyone else did as well, but it is very important to note one thing.

Although this all seems like a bad situation, you can find a small diamond in the rough if you use it as an avenue to open a line of communication with prospective medical school's admissions offices.

You can go talk to them about it, and ask questions about their medical school. Treat it like an inteview... prepare and be very well behaved. This sort of thing is never really spoken about, but carries HUGE weight with the process. It can take you from anoter piece of paper in the stack to a recognizable face with very little effort... that is, if done correctly. Mention your mistake, that you've realized you made it, and that you are taking actions to change. Likely, the ADCOM or staff member (who to you are equally important) will be friendly but not overly optimistic... so don't expect immediate gratification. But later on, trust me, it pays off.

 

[mildlyneurotic]

This "I realized that I don't ever want to be the kid with a lot of potential but didn't take advantage of it." basically sums up what I feel right now. The absolute last thing I want is to be a senior and realize that I didn't put 100% into college.

The next measly 2 years will impact the rest of your life, why not try a little eh?

 

[IHeartNerds]

I would recommend no more than 2 lab per semester, and ideally just 1 per semester.

How this is humanly possible as a science major? I think I graduated with 14-16 lab courses. Maybe if you're just getting by on the science pre-reqs as a sociology major, but I don't see it happening otherwise.

 

[VMSmith]

I was a humanities major, which I suppose explains that.

 

[DrBrizzle]

Hello, I don't post here much, but I lurked quite a lot. Anyway, I just finished up my freshman year and my GPA is a 3.16...far less than ideal. Honestly, I have no one to blame but myself. I just didn't take it serious enough. I'm one of those kids who never studied in highschool, but still made straight A's, but had their foundation shaken by college. I ended my first semester with a 3.37. This past semester though, I took Latin and made a C, which really hurt. My GPA for this past semester was like a 2.9. I feel like I've let everyone down; my parent, professors, and myself.

I've been rather sick with myself, but I've decided that self pity isn't going to help anything at all. I'm seriously buckling down this fall. I'm going to study my butt, and try to study more efficiently too. I actually did rather well on the downhill side of this semester (minus Latin), but it was too little, too late. I'm hoping to carry this momentum as long as I can now. I have a job in a research lab which I love and hopefully it will help dig me out of this hole I've made. I'm planning on getting involved in some organizations (any suggestions would be great!). I'm shadowing some doctors this summer and will hopefully get an opportunity to volunteer some.

This reason I've made this post is to get your opinions on whether or not I've past the point of no return? If I can bump my GPA up a few notches, can I bury my freshman year? Will an adcom be able to relate to freshman follies?

Thank you for any advice. As you can I most needed to rant, but a little honestly/encouragement/bitter true would be nice!

All hope is not lost, I had a 3.2 after freshmen year and I have acceptance to an MD school. On a side note, I'd suggest studying your coursework, not your butt. Study your butt OFF, but I feel like staring intently at your a** wont help your GPA But seriously, bring it up, and youll be fine.

 

[Poe350]

OP-- I forgot to mention, and it looks like everyone else did as well, but it is very important to note one thing.

Although this all seems like a bad situation, you can find a small diamond in the rough if you use it as an avenue to open a line of communication with prospective medical school's admissions offices.

You can go talk to them about it, and ask questions about their medical school. Treat it like an inteview... prepare and be very well behaved. This sort of thing is never really spoken about, but carries HUGE weight with the process. It can take you from anoter piece of paper in the stack to a recognizable face with very little effort... that is, if done correctly. Mention your mistake, that you've realized you made it, and that you are taking actions to change. Likely, the ADCOM or staff member (who to you are equally important) will be friendly but not overly optimistic... so don't expect immediate gratification. But later on, trust me, it pays off.

So are you saying I should visit to the med schools I would like to go to and chat with them? How would I go about doing this? Set a meeting or just show up?

All hope is not lost, I had a 3.2 after freshmen year and I have acceptance to an MD school. On a side note, I'd suggest studying your coursework, not your butt. Study your butt OFF, but I feel like staring intently at your a** wont help your GPA But seriously, bring it up, and youll be fine.

thanks for the laugh!

 

[Forthegood]

So are you saying I should visit to the med schools I would like to go to and chat with them? How would I go about doing this? Set a meeting or just show up?

Yes. But not just chat, ask questions about the university (not stuff on the website). And definitely set up a meeting. Never just show up.

 

[Kickback]

This summer, get a REALLY sh**ty job, like at McDonalds. You will have all the motivation in the world to do well in school.